Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat has said that now is the time for decision making in regards to the Middle East peace process, if an agreement is to be reached by the end of this year. He made the remarks in a speech at the Peres Centre for Peace in Tel Aviv University. Erekat was joined by MK Yossi Beilin of Meretz and former Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Dr. Alon Liel, to discuss Israel's negotiations with Syria and how it will affect the peace process with the Palestinians. Erekat said that there was only viable option for peace and that was the two state solution. He remarked that Israeli and Palestinian leaders who reach an agreement "will be more important to the region's history than Jesus".

Quote: ""Our goal is to reach an agreement. Regarding the core issues: Jerusalem, the refugees and the borders – all these have solutions. This is the time for decisiveness. We will not go back to talks over temporary arrangements or temporary border, we intend to reach an agreement and this is possible for all the core issues. We need to make decisions, and (Prime Minister) Olmert and (Palestinian President) Abbas are capable of making them. "The 'Israeli and Palestinian leaders who reach an agreement will be more important to the region's history than Jesus," said Erekat.

'Famous last words', you might say. John Lennon of the pop group, the Beatles, once said that they had become "more popular than Jesus". In an interview for the London Evening Standard, John remarked that "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me". Praise God that Christianity has not gone, vanished or shrunk. The Beatles have, but Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, and to day, and forever", Hebrews 13:8. And praise God that His disciples were "thick and ordinary", because this shows us that Jesus Christ is a "friend of publicans and sinners", Matthew 11:19, and thus a friend of mine. A few weeks ago I commented on Dr Paul-Henri Spaak's speech, calling for a man - god or devil - to lift mankind out of the economic morass into which this world is sinking. I believe those words were prophetic, in that Satan will provide mankind such a man, who will be none other than the Antichrist himself (Revelation 13:2). And I believe that Saeb Erekat's words are also prophetic. For this Antichrist, who will strengthen a peace agreement between Israel and the nations for a period of seven years, will claim to be more important that Jesus Christ. For he shall "exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods", Daniel 11:36. And he will blaspheme the true God, and persecute those who follow Him (Revelation 13:6). This is the man that the world is now looking for. He will demand all the world worship him as God (2nd Thessalonians 2:4), and those that refuse will be executed (Revelation 13:15). He will bring carnage and destruction to this world. And when mankind is finally brought to an end of themselves, then Jesus Christ will return to set up His eternal state (Isaiah 9:6-7). And the Stone which was rejected by the builders of the nation of Israel will become the head of the corner (Mark 12:10). This world has a long way to go before they will honour Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. It doesn't have to be that way for you. You can do it right now as you read this message. Just pray to God and tell him that you are sinner and you are sorry for your sins. Thank Him for providing salvation for you, in sending His Son Jesus Christ to bear the punishment for your sins upon the cross. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31). Don't think that you can't get God's salvation because you aren't worthy of receiving it. None of us are worthy. But Jesus Christ has already shown us His good will towards us, in that He has died for us (Romans 5:8). Why would Jesus Christ go to all the trouble of dying on the cross, if He wasn't prepared to receive sinners? His death on the cross shows us that He is ready and willing to receive us. Trust in Him for salvation today.

Source YNet News, Beatles Number 9